SLP Catback Q's

[demonspeed]

Hey everyone. I really don't post here, but I browse every once and awhile. Anyway, i've been thinking about opening up the exhaust a little on my g/f's GT, and it seems SLP is the most popular. Does everyone recommend it? Is it going to be too loud? By too loud, I mean droning, obnoxious, ricer buzz? How is the fit? I'd like something that looks OEM.

My biggest problem is sometimes I can't even tell if the engine kicked over, so I have to try and start it a couple times because it's not loud enough to tell if it's running! I'm hoping with a decent catback, it'll give a bit of performance, while not being too loud.

BTW, the mods are:

K&N drop in
Nifty Xteme floor mats
GT Styling Ventvisors

:) Superfast mods :thumbs:

[kubiache]

It's definately louder, but not annoyingly loud. You'll know when the engine turns over with the SLP on there, especially when it's cold....trust me. I don't think any of the several hundred people on here with SLP have any complaints.

[luniz]

SLP= The best! Sound is awesome. Not ricey at all. Scare those ricers with this sound.

[kse73]

I still smile everytime I come home from school ( once every two months ) and start her for the first time. Its a great sound and it makes the car a lot more fun to drive.

[Slim]

Originally posted by demonspeed
My biggest problem is sometimes I can't even tell if the engine kicked over, so I have to try and start it a couple times because it's not loud enough to tell if it's running!

You tach should tell you if the car's running or not. The newer GTs have a nifty starter feature. You can hold the key until the engine starts. Once the car is running, power to the starter is killed. No more starter grind. :)

[demonspeed]

Originally posted by Slim25
You tach should tell you if the car's running or not. The newer GTs have a nifty starter feature. You can hold the key until the engine starts. Once the car is running, power to the starter is killed. No more starter grind. :)

Not really... because when you turn the key to "Run" (I think that's what it is), the tach goes all the way through the rpms and then just drops to 0 and stays there for a couple seconds. I have noticed it hasn't ever ground at all. We'll see if I get the exhaust. Thanks for the replies.

[Slim]

Originally posted by demonspeed
Not really... because when you turn the key to "Run" (I think that's what it is), the tach goes all the way through the rpms and then just drops to 0 and stays there for a couple seconds

Rrright... Forgot about the 180* needle sweep. But yeah, you will notice when your car starts when you get an exhaust system. When I got my Magnaflow put on, I got in the habit of starting my car with the door open because it sounds so awesome. I still do it a year and a half later.... even in the middle of winter. lol

[PACE]

Originally posted by Slim25
I got in the habit of starting my car with the door open because it sounds so awesome. I still do it a year and a half later.... even in the middle of winter. lol

lol me too.
every morning I go out to the garage and warm her up by starting her up and giving a couple revs with the door open....mmmmmmm flowmaster :)

[Slim]

Originally posted by PACE
lol me too.
every morning I go out to the garage and warm her up by starting her up and giving a couple revs with the door open....mmmmmmm flowmaster :)

Haha... Yeah, I do that too. My g/f looks at me with that wtf look on her face when I do it. lol She just doesn't understand.

[Vinaashak]

I know what you all mean. Then again i dont need to have the door open to hear my car on start up. Its that damn loud:). I dont have SLP by the way.

[killerhound]

SLP sounds anything but ricey. I also have my door open half the time to hear it, especially on a cold startup..the growl it makes when it's first started from being cold is awesome! Gotta love the idling sound too...

[Dr_Kyle]

Originally posted by Slim25
When I got my Magnaflow put on, I got in the habit of starting my car with the door open because it sounds so awesome. I still do it a year and a half later.... even in the middle of winter. lol

me three :D

[DumpsterDamon]

^^ werd

[demonspeed]

So.... how about some sound clips!

[AznGA]

Well I think SLP is best sounding system out there and yes, it can be loud for some people. Definitely worth $400 if you ask me. It will make every head turn, expecially during nice days when people roll down windows. The only time I wish it were a bit quiter is when I take a girl out on a date.......

[demonspeed]

Originally posted by AznGA
The only time I wish it were a bit quiter is when I take a girl out on a date.......

That's the thing. It's my g/f's car, and I know she won't want to be driving around like that all the time. She get's in my car for that. :D

[BadGT471]

SLP is by far the BEST sounding catback system for the Grand Am... I've had NUMEROUS people, even some of these guys with Z06 Vettes, newer mustangs and camaros, tell me how deep the sound is for a V6... They've never heard anything like it. The SLP exhaust is ANYTHING but ricey sounding. It's loud enough, but not too loud. It will DEFINATELY get you attention if you want it to... I've heard both this and the Borla. The Borla is too quiet for my liking... Maybe a little bit louder then stock... I know the gains with it are good, but I'm more of the gains and sound... SLP makes some sweet exhaust systems... Anyways, if I were you, I'd search the web for some SLP sound clips. I did that before I bought mine... Also, like stated by others in the previous posts, you will DEFINATELY know when the car is started with this exhaust system... I can hear my car start with remote start like 1,000 feet away. Sounds SWEET!!!:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:

[AznGA]

Without a resonator and bigger piping, I would think that SLP would give you more gains. Here is the soundclip, but you really should listen in person.
(Go down to 3.4L V6)

http://exhaustsoundclips.com/gm.html

[Slim]

The sound from each exhaust is definitely different and personal opinion as to which sounds best. After going to GAP, I had a chance to see and hear a tonne of different setups. Of course I'm biased, but I'm still very happy with my Magnaflow setup.

As far as sound, the SLP is great. It's got a nice throaty sound and is a definite increase in volume over stock. If you're looking for something that sounds good but is just a bit louder than stock, Borla is your best choice. The Magnaflow is quite a bit louder than stock too and has a nice deep rumble to it. Quite often, people have said to me, "I didn't know your car came with a V8". I say "It doesn't, it's a V6". It's cool to see the different reactions.

[demonspeed]

After hearing that sound clip, i'm kinda turned off by it. Now, I know i need to hear it in person, but it's kinda farty in a way. It blurps a bit. It sounds nothing like a 4 banger, which is cool. You can tell it's a 60* V6 at least. I guess i'll have to think about this real hard before I do it, if I do at all. Thanks again!

[RedGuy]

Yea, me too. When I heard it the first time, its not the type of sound i was expecting to hear. Blurps and stufff. But maybe its just that car....... i donno

[Slim]

When you throw a free flow exhaust on the Grand Am, you get the "blurps" as you guys put it. You get that when the engine is backing down. It's the backpressure in the system equalizing IIRC. You'll really notice it if you rev you engine past 5,000 and let it wind down. I like that sounds, but that's just me. :)

[AznGA]

Originally posted by Slim25
The sound from each exhaust is definitely different and personal opinion as to which sounds best. After going to GAP, I had a chance to see and hear a tonne of different setups. Of course I'm biased, but I'm still very happy with my Magnaflow setup.

As far as sound, the SLP is great. It's got a nice throaty sound and is a definite increase in volume over stock. If you're looking for something that sounds good but is just a bit louder than stock, Borla is your best choice. The Magnaflow is quite a bit louder than stock too and has a nice deep rumble to it. Quite often, people have said to me, "I didn't know your car came with a V8". I say "It doesn't, it's a V6". It's cool to see the different reactions.
Your Magnaflow is not as loud as SLP? I thought about keeping SLP piping and just swap mufflers.......

[Slim]

Originally posted by AznGA
Your Magnaflow is not as loud as SLP? I thought about keeping SLP piping and just swap mufflers.......

The Magnaflow is a different sound than the SLP. The Mag is deeper I think but probably around the same as far as volume.

The only reason I went with Magnaflow over anything else was price. I got mine for $350 (CAD) installed.

[BadGT471]

I actually think the SLP sounds better then the Magnaflow, but that's just my opinion... A guy in our local car club has Magnaflow, and I personally like my SLP much better..

[AznGA]

This is what I like to do with SLP. Floor till about 40 MPH and then let off the gas pedal. The "growl" when the RPM drops is just awesome.

[BadGT471]

Heck YEA!!!!!!!!!!

[coupe]

Originally posted by AznGA
This is what I like to do with SLP. Floor till about 40 MPH and then let off the gas pedal. The "growl" when the RPM drops is just awesome.

Put it in 2nd and get up to 50 mph and then let off the gas, its way better.

[AznGA]

Go up to 50 in 2nd? That's not good for tranny.

[coupe]

I dont mean to do it all the time. Just do it once. Our trannys can handle one time.

[PontiacGT2K]

Originally posted by AznGA
Go up to 50 in 2nd? That's not good for tranny. That's not bad for the tranny.......you can almost hit 50 in 1st gear if I remember correctly.

[kamikaz16]

2nd goes up over 70mph, 50mph is barely getting into it lol

I've got the SLP too...wow, its AMAZING how great the sound is. I'm in a muscle car club, and when I go cruising with my SS/Z28/TA/GT/Cobra/Vette friends, I can actually STILL hear my car, and actually sound like I belong. I pulled up to my friend's GT stang and reved it to the line, he was really startled and didn't realize that it was ME who made that noise. Sounds like a true American car- deep, throaty, and roars at the top end. Not a damn SPECK of **** in it.

And I know what you mean about the sound clips. To me the seemed farty, but I assure you, its merely the way it was recorded. It sounds waaaaay better in person. Best $400 I ever spent :)

[IrateSpeed6]

Personally I feel the SLP and Magnaflows sound the best.

FYI, here I have posted a video of my SLP exhaust w/ a QTEC cutout that I had. Its a pretty good video sound-wise.

http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18514

[SilverSurferGT]

would u say SLP is good for everyday driving, takin out the GF? in other words... is it REALLY loud for a small town wit lotsa backroads? also, wut kinda magnaflows woudld go on our 3.4 99+ GT's? the Camaor style, or 2 street style?

[coupe]

I would have to say its fine. My girl loves my SLP. You can either do transverse camaro style muffler or 2 mags, its up to you.

[3x3]

Your best bet is to meet up with someone on the forum who lives near you. The recordings are not always crisp. They give you a good sense of the sound but if someone was nice enough they could meet with you and take a ride. I would if I lived near you. Good luck.

[coupe]

For real man. Sound clips never do justice to any exhaust. Before i had SLP i heard alot of clips and was pretty sure on what i was getting. But when i got it put on it was WAY better than any clip i ever heard.

[SilverSurferGT]

kewl, thanks everyone... i jus wasnt sure if gettin 2 mags over a camaro muffler would change the sound/performance at all? Also, I live near the Jersey Shore...thanks again:wave: